Guardian: R&A Green-lighting "Computer game golf" w/DMD's

/

An unusually strong but well pieced together commentary from The Guardian's Ewan Murray on the R&A's decision to allow the use of distance measuring devices in their amateur events.

Before getting to Luke Donald's recent Tweets supporting the case, Murray writes of allowing distance measuring devices:


What the R&A has done is taken up the option to implement a local rule, but what golf's rulers cannot possibly believe is that the action will be viewed in isolation. It is difficult to deviate from the theory that this is some kind of trial in all but name.

If this strategy follows its now natural course, not only could the already chronic pace of play be hampered further in club events but the prospect of feel being removed from the game will become a live one.

Golf is not, and should never be, treated as an exact science. Magnificent old courses have been reduced to pitch-and-putt affairs by the R&A's unwillingness to deal with the distance the modern ball can travel. Now, computer game golf is being given a green light. How unedifying a sight, to watch young players learning the game with hand-held digital equipment as a constant point of reference.


And on that last point, Murray looks to Donald's Tweets, which are worth remembering on many levels. One, he is no technophobe nor is Donald one prone to just spouting off for the fun of it. Two, he is very much in tune with college golf having played it and having a short game coach that is the Northwestern coach.

Tweet one:


Tweet two: